Pistol-type soldering torch



April 26, 1960 s. KAUFMANN 2,934,308

PISTOL-TYPE SOLDERING TORCH Filed Sept. 12, 1955 FIG. I.

INVENTOR STANLEY L. KAUFMANN.

ATT RNEY United States Patent 9 2,934,301; PISTOLTYPE SOLDERING roacn Stanley L. Kaufmann, East Meadow, N.Y., assignor to Marsbfield Manufacturing Corporation, Long Island City, N.Y.

Application September 12, 1955, Serial No. 533,660 2 Claims. 01. 251-114 This invention relates to a pistol-type soldering torch.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of a pistol-type soldering torch or soldering gun having superior valve and valve control characteristics. In devices of this general character, it is quite diflicult to control the flame. It is important that the valve mechanism be capable of delivering just the right quantity of fuel to support a pilot flame. valve mechanism permit a freer flow for a relatively strong or hot soldering flame. And similarly, it is desirable that a lesser flame be available, not quite the hottest but still stronger than a pilot flame.

The valve mechanism herein described and claimed is well adapted to control the flow of fuel to the extent required to provide a pilot flame, a strong soldering flame, and at least one intermediate flame. The mechanism, furthermore, is well adapted for adjustment as to each of these flames so as to provide a larger or smaller pilot flame, a stronger or weaker soldering flame and a stronger or weaker intermediate flame. Consequently, the valve mechanism herein claimed is subject to a virtually infinite number of virtually micrometric adjustments.

The present invention may be adapted in various ways to different requirements. In its simplest form, it is provided with a single adjustable valve which is trigger controlled. The adjustment is independent of the trigger mechanism and it may be adjusted to provide a pilot flame in addition to an operative flame of any desired intensity. The pilot flame is produced when the trigger is in inactive position. The stronger flames are produced by simply operating the trigger. The adjustment mechanism nonetheless remains operative even when the trigger is actuated since it can determine and control the extent of the'strongest or hottest flame, irrespective of the various operative positions of the trigger. Furthermore, the adjustment mechanism can be so adjusted as to prevent any flow whatsoever of the fuel irrespectiveof the position 'of the trigger and whether or not the trigger is actuated. "This is an important safety feature.

In'a second form of this invention, there are two valve mechanisms, one for the pilot flame and the other for the soldering flames. Once, again, the valve mechanisms would be independent of the trigger except, of course, when the two are operated conjointly.

' In a third form of this invention, certain positive stops of operative positions are provided for the trigger. In the illustarted form of this version of the invention, there are three such positions: The first provides a pilot flame, the second an intermediate flame and the third at strong soldering flame. Again it'must be stated that the valve adjustment mechanism may be operated to modify the efiect of the trigegr in each of its said three positions.

The invention is illustrated in the'accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a pistol-type soldering torch made in accordance with one form of this invention, the barrel of said device being partly broken away and in section to expose the valve and trigger mechanisms.

It is also important that the 2,934,308 Patented Apr. 26, 19 60 Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is another fragmentary sectional view showing a modification of the invention wherein a second adjusting mechanism for the pilot flame is shown in addition to the primary adjusting mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1 but showing a modified trigger mechanism providing for a plurality of positive positions, the position in Fig. 4 being the pilot flame position.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing an intermediate flame position for the trigger.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to that of Fig. 5 showing a strong flame position of said trigger.

Fig. 7 is a side view of the cam member which locks the trigger in various positions.

The pistol-type soldering torch or soldering gun 10 shown in Fig. 1 makes use of a tank 12 of fuel under pressure, such as butane or liquified petroleum or any other suitable pressurized gas. This tank is provided with a conventional normally closed valve (not shown) and conventional means whereby the tank may be connected to the pistol torch. By way of illustration, the housing or barrel 14 of said pistol torch is provided with an annular, internally threaded boss 16 and the tank 12 is provided with an externally threaded nozzle 18 which screws into said boss 16. The normally closed valve opens when the tank is secured to said annular boss 16 by conventional means also not shown. It will be observed that a passage 20 provides communication between said nozzle 18 and a chamber 22 in said barrel or housing 14. A tube 24 projects into said chamber 22 from the forward or muzzle end of the pistol housing. This tube also projects outwardly and forwardly from said pistol housing and it may be stepped as at 26 and 28 to provide progressively larger portions. The outlet end 30 of tube 24 is considerably larger in both internal and external diameter than the inlet end 32 which is disposed within chamber 22.

Chamber 22 is normally filled with gas, that is, when the tank 12 is secured to the boss 16. The gas would normally tend to escape-through tube 24 but a valve needle 40 is provided to close off the inlet end 32 of tube 24 when it is desired to prevent the gas from passing through said tube. This valve needle 40 extends longitudinally through the pistol housing or barrel 14 and more particularly through a longitudinal passage 44 formed therein. A gasket 46, made of rubber, natural or synthetic, or any other suitable material, is disposed between chamber 22 and passage 44 and said valve needle 40 projects through said gasket as Fig. 1 clearly shows. The gasket provides a gas-tight seal between said chamber and said passage and functions in the manner of a bushing relative to said valve needle.

At the breech end of the pistol barrel or housing 14, passage 44 enlarges to form a relatively wide socket 50 which is internally threaded to receive an externally threaded plug 52. This plug has a recess 54 and a hole 56 which opens into said recess. The valve needle 40 projects through said recess 54 and said hole 56 and its outwardly projecting end is provided with a knob 58 which may be gripped between the fingers.

Projecting downwardly from the pistol housing or barrel 14 is the pistol grip or hand grip 60. It will be ob served that a recess 62 is formed in said hand grip 69 and that said recess extends upwardly into the barrel or housing 14. A trigger 64 is pivotally mounted in will be observed in Fig. 2 that nut 68 has a pair of lugs 72 and 74 projecting radially outwardly therefrom, lug 72 projecting upwardly and lug 74 projecting downwardly. These two lugs are disposed within grooves or channels 76 and '78 respectively formed in the pistol hon-s ing or barrel 14. Nut 68 is thereby prevented from turning but it remains free to move longitudinally of said slots 76 and 78 and of the valve needle 40 to the extent ermitted by said slots and by the trigger, as will shortly appear.

A coiled compression spring 80 is mounted on valve needle 40 and its back end bears against shoulder 82 of plug 52, which is formed between recess 54 and hole 56, and its forward end bears against nut 68. The action of said spring, therefore, is to urge nut 68, and hence sleeve 70 and valve needle 40, forwardly and to bring the needle point 84 into engagement with the inlet end 32 of tube 24, thereby closing said inlet end and preventing the escape of gas therethrough. To open said inlet end of tube 24, all that need be done is to actuate the trigger 64. As has been indicated, this trigger is in abutment with nut 68 and consequently when the trigger is drawn backwardly, said nut 68 is pushed backwardly, carrying the valve needle along with it. When the trigger is released, spring 80 will push the nut and also the valve needle forwardly and the pointed end of said valve needle will once again engage the inlet opening of tube 24 and close said opening. By the same token, trigger 64 will itself be pushed forwardly by the action of said spring to its original or inoperative position,

It will be understood that the valve mechanism thus described may be adjusted by simply turning knob 58. This has the effect of changing the position of valve needle 40 relative to nut 68. For example, should it be desired to provide a pilot flame which would burn even when the trigger is in its forward inoperative position, all that need be done is to turn knob 58 until the pointed end 84 of the valve needle clears the inlet opening 32 of tube 24 just sufliciently to enable the gas to escape through said tube at a rate of flow suflicient for a pilot flame. This would not interfere with obtaining a hotter soldering flame since the trigger would remain available to be operated for that purpose. To shut ofl the pilot flame, knob 58 would return in the opposite direction until the pointed end of the valve needle is seated in the inlet end 32 of tube 24.

Fig. 3 shows a variation of the pistol torch 10 illus trated in Fig. 1. A pistol torch or soldering gun 90 is shown in Fig.3, wherein a second needle valve is provided for the pilot flame. It will be observed that tube 92, which corresponds to tube 24, is provided with a laterally projecting tubular branch 94 which communicates therewith. This branch tube constitutes a secondary inlet opening, in addition to the inlet end 96 of tube 92 which corresponds to inlet end 32 of tube 24. A valve needle 98 projects through top wall 100 of the barrel or housing of pistol 90 and its pointed end 102 engages said branch tube 94. This valve needle 98 is provided with screw threads and it extends through a tapped hole in said top wall 100. The upper end of the valve needle has a knurled knob 104 by which the needle may be turned in either direction in order to move it inwardly or outwardly relative to said branch tube 94. The branch tube nowfunctions as the valve seat and said valve needle may be manipulated to bring it into and out of engagement with said valve seat. Chamber 106 is normally filled with gas and hence a continuous flow of suflicient gas for a pilot flame may be had by simply opening the needle valve slightly; Leakage of the gas through the tapped hole through which the valve needle 98 extends is prevented by the use of a gasket 108.

Turning now to Figs. 4, and 6, it will be seen that soldering pistol 110 is basically like the soldering pistol above described except that it is provided with posit ps i ioning me s or s. t igg r 1. 2-

has a cutout 114 formed therein and occupying said outout is a stop member or cam 116. This member is pivotally mounted in recess 118 on crosspin 120. Said pin projects outwardly from housing or barrel 122 of the pistol torch 110 and a knob 124 is secured thereto so that said pin and the cam aflixed thereto may manually be turned to the several positions shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6.

When the cam or detent 116 is in its Fig. 4 position, the trigger is locked in inoperative position and cannot be retracted. By adjusting the position of the valve needle 126, as described in connection with valve needle 40, a pilot flame may be had while trigger is locked in such position. If .desired, however, said valve needle may be adjusted so as to close off the outlet tube 128 and thereby to prevent any flow whatsoever of the gas. When the detent or cam 116 is turned to its Fig. 5 position, it occupies a small hollow 130' in trigger 112 and this constitutes an intermediate position wherein a moderate flow of gas is provided. Fig. 6 shows the detent or earn 116 in a third position wherein it holds the trig-v ger in fully retracted position, thereby opening the valve to the fullest extent possible.

The foregoing is illustrative of preferred forms of this invention and it will be understood that these preferred forms may be modified and other forms may be provided within the broad spirit of the invention and the broad scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. An actuating mechanism for the needle valve of a pistol torch of the character described, having a housing adapted to support a fuel tank, a chamber formed at the forward end of said housing and adapted to communicate with said fuel tank, and a tube projecting forwardly from said housing, its back end communicating with said chamber, and wherein the needle valve is adapted to be supported by said housing and adapted to project longi tudinally therethrough, and the forward end of said valve needle being pointed and adapted to project into said chamber in alignment with said tube and adapted to engage said tube to close the tube and prevent com; munication between said tube and said chamber, said actuating mechanism consisting of a body, a stern re ciprocably mounted in said body and projecting rearwardly outwardly from said body and having an actuating knob secured thereto, a screw-threaded sleeve on said stem, a nut engaging said screw-threaded sleeve, splines between said nut and said body to prevent the nut from.

rotating about the axis of said screw-threaded sleeve,

while remaining free to move axially of the stem, a: compression spring mounted between said nut and the back end of said stem, said spring bearing against a re: taining member on the back end of said bodyto urge said nut and said stem forwardly, and a trigger pivotally mounted on said body in front of and in abutment with, said nut, whereby the trigger may be retracted to push,

the nut andthe stem rearwardly against the action. of

said spring, and whereby the trigger may be released :to enable said spring to return said trigger and the nut and.

stem to their original positions, an adjustable stop mem-' her being provided in the body for engagement in a plur rality of positions with said trigger to lock the trigger in selected positions against the action of the spring in (References on following page) Kreisler Dec. 21, 1920 Wiley et a1. June 20, 1933 Kramer Aug. 14, 1934 Magney Oct. 15,1935 5 I 6 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany May 18, 1921 France Sept. 23, 1929 

